Secretary of the Interior Kempthorne Presents
Cooperative Conservation Award for Earth Day
To the Restore New Mexico Partnership

WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a ceremony in the nation’s capital today, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne recognized the Restore New Mexico Partnership as one of 21 recipients nationwide of the Department of the Interior’s Cooperative Conservation Award.

The 21 awards recognized the work of more than 700 groups and individuals who achieved excellence in conservation through collaboration and partnerships.

“These outstanding partnerships and cooperative efforts represent a fundamental way in which our Department provides stewardship for America with integrity and excellence,” Secretary Kempthorne said. “They embody a broad spectrum of conservation work from restoring wetlands, rangelands and mine lands to protecting wildlife, conserving water and fighting invasive species to teaching conservation values to the next generation.”

The award to the Restore New Mexico Partnership recognizes the group’s extraordinary initiative and leadership in achieving the vision of restored grassland and riparian ecosystems in southeastern New Mexico, including the removal of salt cedar from river corridors—which allowed the natural biodiversity to return—and reintroduction of fire to the landscape. Since 2005 brush control on 500,000 acres has been completed on public lands and almost 10,000 acres on private and state lands. Native riparian vegetation was reestablished on 36 miles of river, replacing salt cedar that had invaded their banks. And 800 acres of well pads, roads, and power lines were reclaimed, reconnecting more than 80,000 acres of wildlife habitat.

“By bringing diverse stakeholders together and through tireless dedication to a common vision, the partnership restored extensive landscapes in southeastern New Mexico,” the award noted. “Through persistence and tenacity, these small groups found success and built momentum, causing their movement to grow.”

“This is a fitting start to a week of Earth Day activities,” the Secretary told the crowd at the main Interior auditorium. “If anyone were to ask me why America is the world leader in conservation of natural resources, I would simply point to the people in this auditorium. You are the spirit and you are the hands of cooperative conservation.”